Debswana, BITC team up for major machinery repair centre
Friday, August 02, 2024 | 240 Views |
Talking partnerships: Moakufi PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
The initiative comes in response to the realisation that despite Botswana’s status as a prominent mining hub, Debswana has been spending billions of pula on machinery repairs in South Africa. The establishment of a local repair and maintenance centre aims to keep these funds within the country, fostering economic growth and creating job opportunities.
The groundwork for this initiative was laid in 2020 when Debswana and BITC signed a Memorandum of Understanding formalising their commitment to explore and develop opportunities that would enhance Botswana’s industrial capabilities and reduce dependency on external services.
The P300 million internal roads tender is a case study. A bidder’s complaint revealed alleged irregularities. A tribunal ordered a re-evaluation.The council and the initial winner appealed to the High Court. Now, the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, frustrated by the delay, writes to the council suggesting the tender be cancelled, and an alternative procurement model be explored, while the matter is still before the courts....